¿Hablas español?
Discussion
A question for Spanish speakers.
I've been on DuoLingo for 300 days now learning Spanish and it's been great. I can basically text in Spanish to Spanish speaking friends, sort of read basic stuff, watch Casa de Papel in its original language with Spanish subtitles
Very impressed with how the app works.
So I started Spanish classes last night, our teacher is Colombian thus she pronounces LL as a J, whilst my Spanish friends pronounce it as a Y.
I asked her at the end of the class about it and she looked puzzled and said I should definitely use a J sound for the double L.
So now confused. I know DuoLingo teaches South American Spanish like using Carro for car, not Coche like they do in Spain, but it understands me when I use Y for say Ella not the J that the app uses.
Have to say though, that it's been over 40 odd years since I've last been in a classroom and it was very enjoyable. I'm at least double the age of my classmates, in some cases almost triple and with my DuoLingo experience I have to hold back and not become the teacher's pet, although she is beautiful but also at least half my age 
I've been on DuoLingo for 300 days now learning Spanish and it's been great. I can basically text in Spanish to Spanish speaking friends, sort of read basic stuff, watch Casa de Papel in its original language with Spanish subtitles
Very impressed with how the app works.
So I started Spanish classes last night, our teacher is Colombian thus she pronounces LL as a J, whilst my Spanish friends pronounce it as a Y.
I asked her at the end of the class about it and she looked puzzled and said I should definitely use a J sound for the double L.
So now confused. I know DuoLingo teaches South American Spanish like using Carro for car, not Coche like they do in Spain, but it understands me when I use Y for say Ella not the J that the app uses.
Have to say though, that it's been over 40 odd years since I've last been in a classroom and it was very enjoyable. I'm at least double the age of my classmates, in some cases almost triple
and with my DuoLingo experience I have to hold back and not become the teacher's pet, although she is beautiful but also at least half my age croyde said:
A question for Spanish speakers.
I've been on DuoLingo for 300 days now learning Spanish and it's been great. I can basically text in Spanish to Spanish speaking friends, sort of read basic stuff, watch Casa de Papel in its original language with Spanish subtitles
Very impressed with how the app works.
So I started Spanish classes last night, our teacher is Colombian thus she pronounces LL as a J, whilst my Spanish friends pronounce it as a Y.
I asked her at the end of the class about it and she looked puzzled and said I should definitely use a J sound for the double L.
So now confused. I know DuoLingo teaches South American Spanish like using Carro for car, not Coche like they do in Spain, but it understands me when I use Y for say Ella not the J that the app uses.
Have to say though, that it's been over 40 odd years since I've last been in a classroom and it was very enjoyable. I'm at least double the age of my classmates, in some cases almost triple and with my DuoLingo experience I have to hold back and not become the teacher's pet, although she is beautiful but also at least half my age
When I learned Spanish at Uni, I spoke Spanish Spanish and my tutor spoke SA Spanish. LL was pronounced ll-ya (like Million) by both of us, and everyone else for that matter. I think folk from Puerto Rico pronounce it J though.I've been on DuoLingo for 300 days now learning Spanish and it's been great. I can basically text in Spanish to Spanish speaking friends, sort of read basic stuff, watch Casa de Papel in its original language with Spanish subtitles
Very impressed with how the app works.
So I started Spanish classes last night, our teacher is Colombian thus she pronounces LL as a J, whilst my Spanish friends pronounce it as a Y.
I asked her at the end of the class about it and she looked puzzled and said I should definitely use a J sound for the double L.
So now confused. I know DuoLingo teaches South American Spanish like using Carro for car, not Coche like they do in Spain, but it understands me when I use Y for say Ella not the J that the app uses.
Have to say though, that it's been over 40 odd years since I've last been in a classroom and it was very enjoyable. I'm at least double the age of my classmates, in some cases almost triple
and with my DuoLingo experience I have to hold back and not become the teacher's pet, although she is beautiful but also at least half my age I envy your commitment; I've wanted to learn Spanish (Castilian/castellano) but too impatient with my slow progress.
I guess it depends on the party you are communicating with. Ideally I need to learn Catalan as I'm really only interested in Menorca, but Castilian Spanish is widely spoken and understood and it's more accessible.
I guess it depends on the party you are communicating with. Ideally I need to learn Catalan as I'm really only interested in Menorca, but Castilian Spanish is widely spoken and understood and it's more accessible.
Double L pronunciation also varies throughout Spain and the Canaries. Ella (she) can be eya, eja, or quite often, with a sort of jz sound, like ejza.
But yes, Duolingo is S. American Spanish, in the main. As you've said, carro is car, but in Spain that'll get you a supermarket trolley! Also, esposa for wife is wrong in Spain, it's just mujer (same as woman). And they use usted/ustedes all the time in S. America, but in Spain, just forget it. The Spanish don't use it that much, and they certainly wouldn't expect it from a foreigner.
I know people get annoyed with people overusing "so" in English, but in Spanish, so "entonces" is your best friend. It gives you a chance to think about what you want to say. My Spanish friends call me "el hombre entonces".
But yes, Duolingo is S. American Spanish, in the main. As you've said, carro is car, but in Spain that'll get you a supermarket trolley! Also, esposa for wife is wrong in Spain, it's just mujer (same as woman). And they use usted/ustedes all the time in S. America, but in Spain, just forget it. The Spanish don't use it that much, and they certainly wouldn't expect it from a foreigner.
I know people get annoyed with people overusing "so" in English, but in Spanish, so "entonces" is your best friend. It gives you a chance to think about what you want to say. My Spanish friends call me "el hombre entonces".
Thought I'd bump this rather than start something a new topic.
I have been doing Spanish on Duolingo & reached a 100 day streak and wanted to try watching some Spanish TV. We have a firestick from the 7 seas (if you know what I mean). It has over 300 channels from Spain on it & I've tried channel hopping but cant find anything basic to watch, does anyone know what the Spanish equivalent of BBC1 or ITV is? I was hoping to watch the news or even a magazine program like The One Show. I did find Comedy Central & National Geographic on there and tried watching shows I've watched in English before but I was struggling to keep up.
I have been doing Spanish on Duolingo & reached a 100 day streak and wanted to try watching some Spanish TV. We have a firestick from the 7 seas (if you know what I mean). It has over 300 channels from Spain on it & I've tried channel hopping but cant find anything basic to watch, does anyone know what the Spanish equivalent of BBC1 or ITV is? I was hoping to watch the news or even a magazine program like The One Show. I did find Comedy Central & National Geographic on there and tried watching shows I've watched in English before but I was struggling to keep up.
captain_cynic said:
Try news in slow Spanish, however you're quickly going to find out that Duolingo is a teaching aid, not a teacher.
There's no substitute for talking to someone and having them help your Spanish along the way (with both speaking and understanding what is being spoken).
Better wait for a slow news day. There's no substitute for talking to someone and having them help your Spanish along the way (with both speaking and understanding what is being spoken).
I am frustrated that I wasted so long on DuoLingo. I doubt that it is possible to ever learn a language using it. A few words and some basic grammar perhaps, but learn a language? No.
I’ve been taking between two and five Italian lessons per week since September (one-to-one). In addition to which I do homework, additional study, listen to Italian news, read Italian newspapers, read Italian newspapers and record myself. I’ve been to Italy and spoken only Italian for one week. And yet, on a daily basis, I despair because I know so little.
I'm on about 750 days Duolingo now and find that I can converse via text with Spanish speakers.
I did do a ten week, one day per week course, over a year ago and just before Christmas did about 3 one on one lessons with a teacher based in Málaga.
I do Duolingo a lot though and feel it has taught me loads.
I've just spent 5 weeks in Tenerife, staying in a very Spanish town where no one spoke English but still insisted on chatting to me.....at length
Did wonders for my confidence when I could make myself understood and follow what was being said.
Total immersion is the best way. Spanish radio in the car whilst over there and Spanish telly in the evening.
I did do a ten week, one day per week course, over a year ago and just before Christmas did about 3 one on one lessons with a teacher based in Málaga.
I do Duolingo a lot though and feel it has taught me loads.
I've just spent 5 weeks in Tenerife, staying in a very Spanish town where no one spoke English but still insisted on chatting to me.....at length
Did wonders for my confidence when I could make myself understood and follow what was being said.
Total immersion is the best way. Spanish radio in the car whilst over there and Spanish telly in the evening.
Hit a wall with Duolingo, I struggle with making mistakes and not having the 'why' explained, which Duo does not do a lot. Instead I started reading 'Short Stories in Spanish' by Olly Richards (On 2nd one now) and also watching this guys vids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLl_0d0EBw&li...
'Tu comes manzanas'
I'm on 225 days with Duolingo ... spend 10-15 mins whilst eating my breaky every morning. I did Spanish at school ... that was some 30 odd years ago and I paid little attention but some thankfully stuck with me.
I really enjoy it but I'm really not in a position to hold a conversation quite yet, although I do try when in Spain. I am going to commit to some more intensive learning as we're planning to relocate there in a couple of years and whilst I appreciate, I won't be fluent by then, I want to converse in Spanish as much as I can.
I'm on 225 days with Duolingo ... spend 10-15 mins whilst eating my breaky every morning. I did Spanish at school ... that was some 30 odd years ago and I paid little attention but some thankfully stuck with me.
I really enjoy it but I'm really not in a position to hold a conversation quite yet, although I do try when in Spain. I am going to commit to some more intensive learning as we're planning to relocate there in a couple of years and whilst I appreciate, I won't be fluent by then, I want to converse in Spanish as much as I can.
The "J" sound you're hearing is more a "zh" sound. The difference in the tongue position between "y" and "zh" is very small, merely a narrowing of the space between the tip of the tongue and the palate.
Both are understandable to your average Spanish speaker. However "proper" Castilian Spanish always uses the Y sound. And calling someone's new car a carro will get you a dirty look The word means "cart" and when applied to a car, roughly translates to "knackered old crate"
Both are understandable to your average Spanish speaker. However "proper" Castilian Spanish always uses the Y sound. And calling someone's new car a carro will get you a dirty look
The word means "cart" and when applied to a car, roughly translates to "knackered old crate" Edited by Whoozit on Friday 16th February 10:51
Whoozit said:
The "J" sound you're hearing is more a "zh" sound. The difference in the tongue position between "y" and "zh" is very small, merely a narrowing of the space between the tip of the tongue and the palate.
Both are understandable to your average Spanish speaker. However "proper" Castilian Spanish always uses the Y sound. And calling someone's new car a carro will get you a dirty look The word means "cart" and when applied to a car, roughly translates to "knackered old crate"
Car is coche, especially in Latin America. Spanish is a bit like English where there are multiple dialects and for the most part we just understand each other. Both are understandable to your average Spanish speaker. However "proper" Castilian Spanish always uses the Y sound. And calling someone's new car a carro will get you a dirty look
The word means "cart" and when applied to a car, roughly translates to "knackered old crate" Edited by Whoozit on Friday 16th February 10:51
Car/carro/coche are a good example of how Google Translate chokes on nuance, slang or regional differences. I've found Google defaults to Mexican Spanish, where the slang and dialect are quite different to it's nearest neighbours let alone the likes of Colombia and Argentina. I'm sure España is a completely different kettle of fish.
I learned Español Latinamerica so I tend to speak that, especially as most of the people I speak it with are South American.
captain_cynic said:
Car is coche, especially in Latin America. Spanish is a bit like English where there are multiple dialects and for the most part we just understand each other.
Car/carro/coche are a good example of how Google Translate chokes on nuance, slang or regional differences. I've found Google defaults to Mexican Spanish, where the slang and dialect are quite different to it's nearest neighbours let alone the likes of Colombia and Argentina. I'm sure España is a completely different kettle of fish.
I learned Español Latinamerica so I tend to speak that, especially as most of the people I speak it with are South American.
My first language was Latin American Spanish learned 50 years ago. Carro was totally normal speech, to the extent it was wildly amusing when I first visited my relatives in Gibraltar. The carro comment was exactly what I said to my aunt about her brand new car which I'd been told about. And I wasn't being a snotty kid, I was petrified of her. Car/carro/coche are a good example of how Google Translate chokes on nuance, slang or regional differences. I've found Google defaults to Mexican Spanish, where the slang and dialect are quite different to it's nearest neighbours let alone the likes of Colombia and Argentina. I'm sure España is a completely different kettle of fish.
I learned Español Latinamerica so I tend to speak that, especially as most of the people I speak it with are South American.
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